Atlanta Hawks at Pistons: Handling biz against bad teams

Auburn Hills, Mich.–The Pistons are bad. Historically bad. Blowing-a-25-point-lead-to-the-Raptors-at-home-bad. So bad that Magic called them out when he was back in East Lansing the other day:

As for the current Pistons, Johnson said they were a long way from the teams he faced in consecutive NBA Finals in the late 1980s.

“Too many individuals,” Johnson said. “You have to get back to what made them great, and that’s defense and rebounding. … What we see now is a team that’s soft. People from Detroit and Michigan can accept losing, but not the way they’re losing.”

The Hawks should win this game and the temptation is to say it won’t tell us anything about them. But the thing the Hawks almost always do win this kind of game. Their troubles against the good teams have been well documented, and they have to start winning more games like Thursday in Boston to be considered legit contenders in the East. But until the Hawks figure that part out, there’s something to be said for handling their business against the league’s also-rans.

The Hawks have 12 Ws and just there Ls against teams that currently have losing records: Milwaukee, New Jersey and Phoenix. Of those teams, the Nets are the only squad with no real hope of turning things around.

So chances are the Hawks will handle Detroit tonight, then move on to the next one. That won’t earn accolades but neither should it be completely discounted.

Michael Cunningham

328 comments Add your comment

Sautee

December 14th, 2010
9:29 pm

LOL Horford has played all but two minutes so far.. Gotta rest him some time.

Where’s Powell?

JeJe

December 14th, 2010
9:30 pm

That save Damien just made, u’d never see Marvin make that

JeJe

December 14th, 2010
9:30 pm

Damien keeps driving lane then kicking out. GO UP WITH IT DAMIEN

COME ON DETROIT IS GIVING US OPPORTUNITIES

bigdave

December 14th, 2010
9:30 pm

Marvin sucks…

big turnover. doesnt even attack the ball aggressively when getting entry pass.

Melvin

December 14th, 2010
9:31 pm

Put Teague in the game…

O'Brien

December 14th, 2010
9:31 pm

What we need from Marvin is for him to consistently knock those shots down.

O'Brien

December 14th, 2010
9:32 pm

Hawks are not getting any calls from these refs.

JeJe

December 14th, 2010
9:32 pm

wtf is this team doing?

That’s 4 plays we’ve done NOTHING on offense

Melvin

December 14th, 2010
9:32 pm

Take Jamal out. He’s guy shy.

JeJe

December 14th, 2010
9:32 pm

MARVIN IS GARBAGE. CAN’T EVEN SCORE AT 6″9 AGAINST THESE SMALLER PLAYERS.

POST UP = *DRIBBLE, STRIP*

LOL U ARE A JOKE

Melvin

December 14th, 2010
9:33 pm

Enter your comments here

Melvin

December 14th, 2010
9:34 pm

I meant Jamal is gun shy…

Rev in Tampa

December 14th, 2010
9:34 pm

Melvin, I assumed that Jamal is not homo, but thanks for confirming that for us.

pinoy hawk

December 14th, 2010
9:34 pm

where’s the motion? need bibby back to set offense..

{MAC-Town Georgia 478}

December 14th, 2010
9:34 pm

lettin the pistons work us…this is crazy

JeJe

December 14th, 2010
9:36 pm

Josh Smith with 4 boards…Pathetic

{MAC-Town Georgia 478}

December 14th, 2010
9:36 pm

lol@Josh

“That’s some Bullshhh”

Rev in Tampa

December 14th, 2010
9:37 pm

Back to double figure lead

JeJe

December 14th, 2010
9:38 pm

Why is every shot Detroit takes WIDE open?

{MAC-Town Georgia 478}

December 14th, 2010
9:38 pm

4th Quarter…Wide Open shooters for our opponents……nothin new here.

JeJe

December 14th, 2010
9:38 pm

This is a disgrace

Rev in Tampa

December 14th, 2010
9:38 pm

The Pistons are not encouraging Josh to take those 3’s anymore.

JeJe

December 14th, 2010
9:38 pm

Jamal’s probably thinking about his contract situation the entire game

JeJe

December 14th, 2010
9:39 pm

Wow I waited 3 damn days for this garbage

{MAC-Town Georgia 478}

December 14th, 2010
9:39 pm

This is pathetic….not only are we losing to the Pistons…they’re tryin to run us out of the gym.

JeJe

December 14th, 2010
9:39 pm

Horford is not getting the damn ball at all on offense

Rev in Tampa

December 14th, 2010
9:40 pm

Correction… The Pistons announcers are not encouraging Josh to take those 3’s anymore.

{MAC-Town Georgia 478}

December 14th, 2010
9:40 pm

lmao@Jeje….thats just what i was thinkin.

…had to wait all these days since our last game for this performance.

Randiferous

December 14th, 2010
9:40 pm

Josh should be benched in this game. His shot selection has been awful and he is really hurting us. I’m talking about Josh Smith here, but actually, Powell looks pretty bad so far tonight too.

{MAC-Town Georgia 478}

December 14th, 2010
9:41 pm

NEXT GAME
START

Teague
Jordan
Wilkins
Powell
Collins

send the unit a message to wake up

Melvin

December 14th, 2010
9:42 pm

Jamal played terrible tonight.

Najeh Davenpoop

December 14th, 2010
9:43 pm

Hmmm… T-Mac couldn’t have POSSIBLY helped this team, could he?

{MAC-Town Georgia 478}

December 14th, 2010
9:43 pm

lol getting poured on….at the hands of the Pistons…

Melvin

December 14th, 2010
9:43 pm

OB,

Where are all the TMac doubters at tonight?

JeJe

December 14th, 2010
9:43 pm

Bibby doesn’t facilitate garbage. Everything is just pounding it and trying to get a contested shot off behind a pick

YoDaddy

December 14th, 2010
9:44 pm

{MAC-Town Georgia 478}

December 14th, 2010
9:45 pm

Hawks are too good for T-Mac, Shaq, etc….especially when we can put guys like Mo Evans, Pachulia and Marvin out there

Najeh Davenpoop

December 14th, 2010
9:45 pm

What a great headline for this blog too, considering the outcome of this game.

JeJe

December 14th, 2010
9:45 pm

Marvin Williams with 4 points in 25 mintues LOL.

At least the Orlando announcers realize how much he sucks. Garbage

Jae Evolution

December 14th, 2010
9:46 pm

*Looks at blog title* *Lowers head*

PATHETIC!

JeJe

December 14th, 2010
9:46 pm

yeah this blog is a joke. I see we’re down 6-0 or whatever then i see the name of this blog. We lose to bad teams all the time

SMGDH

O'Brien

December 14th, 2010
9:46 pm

6 turnovers in the fourth quarter for the Hawks. That is becoming a problem.

JeJe

December 14th, 2010
9:46 pm

I DIDN’T KNOW T-MAC WAS STILL ON ORLANDO

THE ONE GAME OF THE YEAR HE BEASTS IS AGAINST US

Melvin

December 14th, 2010
9:47 pm

Was the Hawks looking ahead to the Celtics game????

JeJe

December 14th, 2010
9:47 pm

WHY IS NO ONE IN THE HUDDLE EVER ANGRY TONIGHT? EVERYONE LOOKS DAMN STOIC

WHERE THE HELL IS THE DEFENSE

Najeh Davenpoop

December 14th, 2010
9:47 pm

Pistons are on an 18-6 run, mostly thanks to T-Mac… who supposedly is so much worse than the great Marvin and Mo Evans that the Hawks couldn’t even consider bringing him in.

JeJe

December 14th, 2010
9:47 pm

CAN WE PLEASE GET A REAL POINT GUARD ON THIS TEAM?

WE HAVE NO POINT GUARDS

LionHearted(FormerlySteel)

December 14th, 2010
9:48 pm

YoDaddy

December 14th, 2010
9:48 pm

Joe Johnson we need you

Pistonsfan101

December 14th, 2010
9:48 pm

LETS GO PISTONS WOOOOOOO UPSET!!!